Page 59 of Christmas Wishes

When I saw who was calling, I wished I’d stayed outside.

“Hello, Mom.” I gripped the edge of the counter.

“Hello, Riggs. I’m calling about Christmas.”

I’m doing fine, thanks. How are you?

“Your father said you haven’t booked your flight home for Christmas.”

I sighed. “Colorado isn’t my home. Juniper Ridge is.”

She clucked her tongue. “I don’t understand why you don’t want to visit us and spend the holiday together. Don’t you want a break from that tiny town?”

And Mom never would.

“Mom, it’s like I told you and Dad before. I want to be here for Doris. It’s her first Christmas without Nico.” Mine too, but my parents never asked how I was doing with that. As far as they were concerned, he’d been merely a man I worked with. When I hadn’t wanted to join the family business, my work life became no longer of concern. My brother didn’t get the same treatment, but he’d proved himself by wanting to move out of Northern Arizona.

“But we’re your family. Surely Doris has her own family to keep her company. Your brother is coming home too. Our family should be together.”

I ground my teeth. “Mom, with all due respect, Doris is family to me. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you soon.” I hung up before she could say anything else to ruin my day. It’d been a great day with Keaton, and I didn’t want to let my parents’ bullshit tarnish one of our last days together.

I tossed the phone onto the kitchen counter and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Keaton was wiping the moisture off his phone.

Without saying a word, he walked over and wrapped his arms around my waist, squeezing tightly. I inhaled a shaky breath, hooked my arm around his shoulders, and pressed my cheek to the top of his head, greedily taking the comfort he offered.

After a long hug, I pulled back. Keaton grabbed my hand and led me down the hall to the bathroom. He turned on the water and steam began filling the room. With a tenderness that left me flayed raw, Keaton stripped me naked, then himself. He pressed his lips against each new patch of skin he uncovered, making me shiver.

We moved under the hot water in a tangle of limbs. It scorched my skin almost as much as his kisses. I needed Keaton more than I needed my next breath. I needed him to pull me out of my head and make me feel. Surround me so each of my senses was consumed by him.

He pressed open-mouthed kisses across my shoulder as he trailed his hand down my chest, fingertips curling in the hair until he reached my dick. He stroked the shaft with just enough pressure to have me on the verge of begging for more. I hardened under his masterful touch, satisfied with what he gave me while needing more.

A whiny growl rumbled from my chest when he removed his hand to grab the body wash and squirt some on his palm. His intense, focused stare inched toward teasing as he chuckled.

He rubbed suds into my chest hair and flicked his thumbs over my nipples before working his way south again. His strokes were firmer now, forcing me to brace my palm against the porcelain tiles, tilting my head back into the spray and letting my eyes fall closed, giving myself over to what Keaton so freely offered.

I wasn’t used to his touch yet, wasn’t sure I ever would be, but I craved it. I needed more of him.

I straightened my head and opened my eyes.

Keaton’s pupils dilated as he stared at me.

The hunger in his eyes undid me. “Will you fuck me?”

* * *

KEATON

Riggs’s request was like a shot of adrenaline to my dick. “Yes. Oh, fuck yes.” I dragged my fingertip down his back and slid it between his cheeks until I reached his hole. I gently pressed, feeling it clench and release under my touch.

I soaped my hand again and used cleaning him as an excuse to warm him up. I had no idea how long it’d been since he’d last bottomed, but from our conversations here and there, I’d gathered it’d been a while since he’d been with anyone.

There was still so much to learn about Riggs—what drove him wild, what turned him off, what buttons to push. I wasn’t sure whether he wanted it gentle or rough, so I watched for cues. It was obvious that the call with his mom had had him on the verge of imploding, and I’d wanted to calm his inner beast with affection and care. But maybe he wanted to get fucked to distraction.

I licked rivulets of water off Riggs’s broad chest as I wiped him dry with a fluffy towel. The bathroom air was muggy from our shower, but with the water now off, it was quickly cooling.

The need in Riggs’s eyes as he stared down at me was staggering.

“I want to get you ready. Turn around and bend over.”

---